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Monday, October 6, 2014

As a society we like our celebrities and tend to support the causes they endorse with this status. Our celebrities are those that entertain and inspire us such as those that act in the movies, on television and the stage, our favorite musicians, athletes from our favorite teams or provide national pride representing at the Olympics, the authors of our favorite literary works and those that provide contributions in the world of art. Each month in this population-we™ (pop-we) series, I Heart Celebrity Causes, a celebrity will be chosen and the cause that they promote will be looked at.

I Heart Celebrity Causes!

This month in the fourth installment of I Heart Celebrity Causes the focus is on author James Patterson and Operation Gratitude. Patterson is the prolific author whose books include the Alex Cross series and Women's Murder Club series. One cause that Patterson has lent his efforts is Operation Gratitude.

Founded in March 2003 by Carolyn Blashek, Operation Gratitude is a way of saying THANKS to the troops by sending care packages containing snacks, entertainment items and personal letters. Blashek initially sent four care packages the first day and it has grown to sending over 150,000 care packages per year with the help of volunteers. The organization encourages letter writing campaigns for both current U.S. military and for the veterans of previous conflicts. The mission of the organization is to lift the spirits and meet some needs of active duty and veterans while providing volunteer opportunities to those who want to offer appreciation to our military.

Patterson and his publisher Little, Brown and Company teamed up with Operation Gratitude in addition to Books for Heroes, the Peerless Bookstore and Feed the Children in 2012 to distribute many of the author's titles to military personnel stationed in the U.S. and Afghanistan. More than 200,000 books were donated as the troops could choose from the titles: "I, Alex Cross", "Private", "Tick Tock," and others. The books were sent in 20,000 boxes from his printers in Indiana to Fort Benning, Georgia and the Van Nuys National Guard Armory in California and then shipped to the troops.

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About the Founder

This blog - http://population-we.blogspot.com/ - is my attempt to stretch my literary muscle. I am a writer, blogger, life-long learner, health nut, former jock, SCUBA diver and public relations professional. Like other population-we™ readers, I'm also the yin to these yang's. I am also a wife, sister, best friend, dive buddy, teammate, fan, foodie and dog companion. But enough about me -- because most importantly it is about us and we! Join me and other population-we™ contributors in turning the blog world upside down with pop-we "Think We Before Me" chatter.